Tourists and newcomers to North Carolina’s southern coast will find it relatively easy to get around in the area, which consists of four coastal counties: New Hanover, Pender, Brunswick and Onslow. The city of Wilmington makes up most of New Hanover County, geographically the second smallest but among the fastest growing of North Carolina’s 100 counties. Wilmington’s population is around 95,000 and New Hanover County’s is about 177,000.

Pender County, bordering New Hanover county on the north, includes the southern half of Topsail Island (Surf City and Topsail Beach), Hampstead and Burgaw. Primarily rural, Pender County was founded in 1875 and is the state’s fifth largest county in area.

The northern half of Topsail Island is in Onslow County, which includes the coastal towns of Swansboro, Holly Ridge and Sneads Ferry. The City of Jacksonville, Camp Lejune Marine Base and Hammocks Beach State Park on Bear Island (accessible only by boat or ferry) are also in Onslow County.

Brunswick County, across the Cape Fear River to the west of New Hanover County, is quite unique in that its beaches face the Atlantic Ocean to the south. These beaches, on barrier islands between the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, stretch from the South Carolina state line to the historic fishing village of Southport. Bald Head Island is approximately four miles from Southport at the mouth of the Cape Fear River where it meets the ocean. Bald Head Island can be reached only by boat or the Bald Head Island Ferry, which does not transport vehicles.

Maps

To help you find your way around the Cape Fear area, a variety of maps are available at various locations, including visitors centers and chambers of commerce. The Guide Map, published by the Cape Fear Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau, 24 N. Third Street, (910) 341-4030 or (800) 222-4757, is good for the downtown Wilmington riverfront and historic district and includes information on attractions outside the city. Many other maps and brochures for the Cape Fear area are also available at the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, 1 Estell Lee Place (just north of the Best Western Coast Line Inn at the west end of Nutt Street), (910) 762-2611. The Chamber of Commerce has extensive relocation data, community maps, a newcomer's guide and helpful information for students coming to the local colleges and universities. The Oak Island Recreation Center has maps of Oak Island, and the Welcome Center in Southport can help you with maps of that area.